Chapter Seventeen

The next twenty-four hours were pure bliss. Trent had rushed home Friday night after work instead of going for beers at the White Crest with his mates—aka the only thing he loved more than cricket—and had herded Cora straight into the shower. They’d made love for hours. Up against the tiles, tangled in the sheets of his bed, on the couch after they’d stopped for nourishment. Then later, when it was dark and they were both exhausted, he’d reached for her again. She’d come so willingly—sleepy, but willingly—into his arms that it satiated something deep inside him. Knowing she wanted him as much as he wanted her, knowing that they didn’t seem to be tiring of each other…it was new. And wonderful.

This is dangerous. You’re not treating it like a temporary thing.

Hell, tomorrow was the surprise birthday party for her. He’d been fussing over every detail with Aimee’s help. She’d worked a miracle, pulling it all together in a week. They were going with an Australian kid’s party theme including fairy bread, Vegemite scrolls, and party pies. Of course they were giving it an adult kick with two signature cocktails—a Manhattan, as a nod to Cora’s hometown, and a Dark ’n’ Stormy with Aussie flare, using rum from far north Queensland.

His folks had graciously agreed to host. Their ginormous backyard had been the scene of many a party over the years, and his family lived life with an open-door policy. He’d invited a group to help Cora celebrate—the cricket gang, Jace and Angie, big brother Adam and his wife Soraya. Maddy had helped him select a perfect gift, a book by a local author, which she’d gotten signed. Everything was going to be perfect tomorrow. A Sunday afternoon birthday adventure.

Except…

Well, except he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with Cora. And he certainly couldn’t shake the feeling that he was getting far too involved for his own good. Despite the hot sex, she retired back to her own bed at night. And during the day, he kept catching her looking into the distance as though something was bothering her. Frowning, like she was occupied by some worrisome thought.

That’s none of your business. Temporary, remember? That was the boundary you set.

And temporary didn’t mean getting involved in each other’s personal lives. He had plenty of secrets, and he hated when people pried. So he wasn’t about to be a hypocrite and do that to her.

“You’re thinking too much,” he muttered to himself as he stepped back from the bathroom to survey the final result. Cora had been working on her book all morning, and he’d been feeling guilty about how he was spending more time with her than working on Liv’s renovations.

So all the new tiling had been completed and the new vanity was installed. Yesterday he’d had one of his electrician mates come around and check the wiring for the new light fixtures. Thankfully, that was one aspect of this house that seemed to be in tip-top condition. Now the bathroom was illuminated with the glow of two high-end sconces he’d splurged on for Liv.

By some weird cosmic snap of timing, a FaceTime call flashed up on Trent’s phone screen. It was Liv. He ducked out of the bathroom and into the hallway before answering so she wouldn’t see any of his work.

“Hello from New York.” Liv’s face was half covered by a wool hat, and her cheeks and nose were pink. When she breathed, puffs of cold air made wispy clouds of condensation come out of her mouth.

“Hello from…your house.” He grinned.

“So it’s true, then—you’re squatting.” She shook her head, laughing.

“Who spilled the beans?”

“Nick. He’s got a big mouth.” She laughed and fogged the screen for a moment. “You could have given me a heads-up! I told you I had a guest coming to stay and she might not be comfortable having my big brother there.”

Trent did his best to keep a straight face. He wasn’t about to tell Liv what had been going on between him and Cora—they were both consenting adults able to make their own decisions—and for some reason, putting it out in the open felt dangerous. Like speaking the words aloud would make it all feel even more real.

“I offered her to stay at Adam and Soraya’s, but she didn’t mind having a roommate.” Yeah…roommate. “And I wasn’t fully aware you had a guest coming to stay.”

“You mean the group text, email, and Facebook post updates weren’t enough?” Liv huffed.

“C’mon Liv, you know I don’t go on Facebook. Or check my email.”

“Or read group chat messages.” She rolled her eyes and laughed. “My dear brother, you’re incorrigible. Besides, why aren’t you staying with Hale anymore?”

“Long story, but it starts with A.”

“Aaah, lovely Aimee.” She giggled and clamped a gloved hand over her mouth. “My God, it’s cold here. I don’t think I’ve ever been so bloody freezing in all my life.”

“So how is it? New York, I mean.”

“Magical.” His sister sighed. “And manic.”

“And the internship?”

A strange look passed over her face. “Not what I expected. But that’s a story for when I get home. In the meantime, I wanted to make sure you weren’t planning on staying at my place forever. Cora might be fine with a roommate, but I’m not.”

His sister was only half teasing. As the baby of the family, she’d always craved independence. It couldn’t have been easy having four big brothers watching over her at all times.

Adam always helped her with her homework and made sure she wore sunscreen before going outside. Nick had taught her to swing a cricket bat and pushed her hard to pursue her dreams. Jace had been there when she’d needed peace from the rest of the family. And Trent had been the fun brother, always ready to hoist her up onto a flying fox or encouraging her to do a wheelie on her bike.

Liv loved them all with the ferocity of a lion, but she craved the ability to forge her own path. And while she was hacking away the jungle leaves of life, pressing forward no matter what, Trent was still standing at the fringe, watching as everyone raced ahead of him.

“Nick told me you still haven’t started work on your place,” Liv added. “I’d hoped without me being home to distract you, maybe you’d be getting a move on that project.”

Trent glanced at the newly decorated bathroom. “I’ve got lots to keep me busy.”

“Doing stuff for other people?”

Instead of making him feel better, her comment stuck like a thorn under his skin. He was trying to help her, trying to make her life easier because she was his little sister. “I really wish Nick would stop discussing my life decisions with everyone.”

“Ah, don’t get your jocks in a twist. You know what Nick is like—standing still is the worst thing in the world. He gave me a hard time for coming to New York for an unpaid internship when I could have been on the hunt for a full-time position back home.”

Trent frowned. “I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah, he thinks I’m letting corporate sharks take advantage of me.” She shrugged. “But I’ve always wanted to come here and see more of the world, so it served my purpose. I’ll find something when I come home, no worries.”

Trent had always appreciated his sister’s positive, optimistic outlook on the world. She was a good influence like that.

“Looks like Nick gets stuck into us all,” Trent commented.

“He wants the best for everyone, you know that.”

Sure, Nick wanted the best for everyone, but only if it lined up with his idea of what that person should want. But he wasn’t going to get into that now. Ultimately, he knew Liv would take Trent’s side, if only to protect her spare bedroom from an unwanted tenant.

“Anyway,” Liv said. “The reason I was calling is because there’s something I need you to do for me.”

“What’s that?”

“There’s a box in my bedroom that has the scrapbook I made for Mum and Dad’s anniversary,” she said, and Trent cringed. Before he had the chance to wipe the expression off his face Liv’s eyes widened. “What was that look?”

“Nothin’.”

“You gave me a look.”

“No, I didn’t.” But denial was pointless. Liv was looking at him with all the practiced suspicion of a sister who knew her brother was up to no good. She’d had years of catching him out.

“Don’t lie to me, Trent Andrew Walters! I know that look.” She pulled the camera even closer to her face so all Trent could see was the furrow of her brows over narrowed eyes. “What. Did. You. Do?”

Shit. No way was he getting out of this now.

“There was…an incident.”

Liv let out a sound of frustration. “What kind of incident?”

“A flooding incident.”

“You flooded my house? What the hell?” Her cheeks were pink now, a key sign that his little sister was about to go apeshit on him. Bloody video calls. He could have kept things on the down low if she hadn’t been able to see his face. “Tell me what happened and don’t scrimp on the details.”

“I was fixing the pipes to get rid of that rattling sound and…I left the mains on. It was a rookie mistake.” He wasn’t going to throw Cora under the bus. No way. “It’s totally my fault.”

“And what’s the damage?” She cringed as if unsure whether or not she wanted to hear the answer.

“Nothing too major. The carpet soaked a bunch of it up, but we got it dried out quickly.” Hmm, how to word the rest of this story delicately?

“You’re not telling me something.”

“The scrapbook may have sustained some damage.”

She wrinkled her nose like she always did before she was about to swear, but she bit back her angry response. “How much damage?”

“It’s done.”

“Done?”

“Ruined.”

“Trent!” She let out a long breath, and the background changed suddenly, like she’d entered a building. Liv yanked her hood back. “I worked on that thing for ages. It was supposed to be a really special present.”

“I know, Liv. I’m sorry. It was an honest mistake.” He held up his free hand to halt any further freak-outs. “But Cora and I have worked our butts off to put it all back together.”

“Excuse me, what?” Liv blinked.

“We remade the scrapbook.”

“You? The boy who once told me arts and crafts were for people who didn’t know how to have fun?” She shook her head. “No, even better, the boy who once glued his own hand to his face while making Christmas ornaments.”

“Don’t remind me.” The Great Glue Accident of 1996 was somewhat of a family legend.

“You really remade the scrapbook?” Liv looked at him through the small screen, her disbelief palpable. “I almost can’t believe it.”

“Believe it. Cora helped, of course. I didn’t do it on my own.”

“I bet that’s just what she wanted to be doing on her holiday.” Liv rolled her eyes. “How’s she doing, anyway?”

“Good.” He wasn’t sure exactly what his sister was getting at.

“Boys, always so detailed.” She laughed. “Does she seem in good spirits, I mean? I know the holiday is supposed to be some time-out for her. She had a nasty breakup, and I know she really wanted to get away. I’ve been worried about her, but every time I check in, I get the same canned response that she’s fine.”

“She’s having fun,” he replied. They were having some of the best sex of his life—what wasn’t fun about that?

Abort. Do not think about that while on the phone with your sister.

“I convinced her to come play beach cricket with the team.”

“Oh, you did?” Liv beamed. “That’s great. Thanks for including her.”

“Of course. The girls were missing your epic swing.”

“Flattery will not make me forget that you flooded my house and decided to stay there without telling me.” Liv wagged her finger at him. “I don’t know if Cora told you, but it’s her birthday tomorrow. I’m sure you probably have plans and stuff, but—”

“Don’t worry,” Trent replied, biting back a smile. “I’ll make sure she celebrates.”

“Thank you, seriously,” Liv continued. “And tell her to call me when she can. I tried her before I rang you, but she didn’t pick up. Her ex stopped by the apartment concierge to drop off something that she’d left at his place, and I overheard him, so I stopped to pick up her stuff. He asked me to pass on a message.”

At the mention of Cora’s ex, Trent’s muscles froze. “What did he say?”

“To call him. I got the impression he regretted ending things.” She shook her head in disgust. “Honestly, after he told me what happened… God, no wonder she wants a break. Her parents sound horrific. Imagine your parent coming on to your partner in public!”

“That’s what happened?” Cora had told him about her mother interfering and causing tension between her and her ex, but that particular detail had been left out of the story.

“Her ex broke it off after Cora’s mother tried to kiss him. She got drunk and propositioned him, Trent. For sex. I can’t even…”

“That’s fucked up.”

“Right? Anyway, I’ve got to run.” Her eyes darted offscreen, something snagging her attention. “Can you keep an eye out for Cora? I’ve been worried about her.”

“Of course.”

“Thanks, Trent.”

His sister disconnected the call. Trent leaned against the wall, agitation flowing through his bloodstream. Her ex regretted ending things…

It was none of his business. None at all. And yet that didn’t stop the sinking sensation deep in the pit of his stomach that told him he was in all kinds of trouble. Because the only reason something like that would bother him was if he didn’t want to lose Cora. But how could you lose a person you didn’t have in the first place?

This whole thing shouldn’t involve feelings of jealousy, and that was most definitely what he was feeling right now.

“Were you talking about me?”

Cora’s voice snapped Trent’s head up, and he caught sight of her standing at the end of the hallway. The disappointed expression on her face was beaten only by the sad tone of her voice.

“Liv called…” he said. “She was worried about you, that’s all.”

“I’ve been gossiped about my whole life, you know.” Her lips pressed into a flat line. “And yes, my fiancé left me because my mother has a need for attention that’s so deep-seated, she’ll crush anyone around her to get it.”

The words were like a blade over his heart, the pain in her voice like fingers digging into his skin. Nobody should have a parent make them feel like that. But he knew what it was like, to be betrayed.

To feel like you were less than.

“If your fiancé left because he wasn’t man enough to stand up to her, then that’s on him,” Trent said bluntly. “Not on you.”

“It wasn’t just that.” She shook her head. “I thought at the time it was all my mother’s fault, but in reality…he and I weren’t a good match. I don’t think he ever saw what I was capable of. In some ways, I wonder if he liked that I was a bit damaged. He wanted a project, only he got frustrated when I didn’t turn out the way he wanted me to after all that polishing.”

“You’re not a fixer-upper, Cora.” He walked toward her, unable to stop himself even though he knew he was standing on a cliff’s edge. “You’re a beautiful, perfect caterpillar.”

She ducked her head, cheeks pink and smile burgeoning. “And you’re going to give me a big head.”

“Good. Someone should.” He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and holding her tight. “He was looking for you.”

“Alex?” She tipped her face up.

Trent nodded. “Apparently he regrets ending things.”

There was a tightness to his voice, though he tried to hide it. Jealousy wasn’t an emotion that he actively engaged—in his mind, being jealous was useless. There would always be someone faster/better/smarter/more. Trent didn’t need to be number one the way Nick did. In fact, he was pretty sure being number two was even better—most of the glory, way less work.

But right now, being number two behind Cora’s ex felt like last fucking place. Would she go back to him? Pick up the phone in the hopes of reconciliation? Was Alex like the fancy, big-city guy his ex had craved? The one she’d cheated with?

“He ended things,” she clarified. “But I owe him for that.”

“You think?”

Cora stared up at him, eyes wide as the open ocean. He could stare into that icy gaze all day long—because he knew now there was nothing cold about Cora. She was warmth all the way through. Warmth and goodness and burning, passionate heat.

“I know,” she whispered. “I’m not going back to him. Ever.”

For a moment, Trent wondered if this were what it felt like to be a king—to be proud and sure and to feel like you could take on the world. That’s how Cora made him feel. She boosted him, made him fearless. Because seeing her grow and change inspired him. Seeing her stand her ground and make good choices for herself made him want to do the same.

What’s the good choice here, pining after a woman who’s got her exit strategy booked and paid for? Falling for a woman who’s going to grow her wings and fly away from you?

It’s what Rochelle had done. It’s what his siblings had done. They were all soaring toward their goals and their dreams, and he was still standing on the ground with his head craned toward the sky.

Maybe Liv was right. He was doing so much stuff for other people that he neglected his own life.

“Come on,” she said, her hand curling into his. “You promised me another reading session.”

And with the saucy twinkle in her eye, all his thoughts and worries vanished. Overthinking never did anyone any good.